Yorubaland Can’t Afford to Be Next Frontier of Mass Abduction — YCE

The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has warned that Yorubaland must not be allowed to become the next hotspot for mass abductions, following the recent kidnapping of pupils, students, and teachers in Oyo State.

The warning came after coordinated attacks last week on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yaworan; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where over 45 victims were reportedly abducted.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its Secretary General, Oladipo Oyewole, the group described the incident as a tragic assault not only on Oyo State but on the entire Yoruba region and Nigeria’s collective conscience.

The council said the attack on schoolchildren and teachers represents a dangerous escalation in insecurity and must be treated as a national emergency.

It called on the Federal Government to urgently deploy special forces, intelligence assets, and logistics support to secure the release of all abducted victims without delay.

The YCE also urged the governors of the South-West states — Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, and Lagos — to intensify cooperation and strengthen joint security efforts to prevent further attacks across the region.

According to the council, Yorubaland cannot afford to become a new frontier for mass abduction, stressing that schools must never become hunting grounds for armed groups.

The group further called for stronger regional security coordination and improved funding, training, and equipment for the Amotekun Corps to enhance intelligence-led operations across the South-West.

It also advocated deeper collaboration with local security stakeholders and traditional institutions in tackling insecurity, warning that delays in action could lead to further loss of lives and instability.

The statement expressed sympathy with families of the victims, particularly mourning the reported killing of a mathematics teacher during the attack.

The YCE prayed for the safe return of the abducted victims and urged authorities to act decisively to protect children and restore public confidence in the safety of schools across Yorubaland.